Former Strikeforce, UFC, Bellator fighter Lavar Johnson sentenced to five years in prison over vile domestic assault

By Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former Strikeforce, UFC, and Bellator MMA heavyweight fighter Lavar Johnson is heading to prison, with a judge in Fresno County, Calif., sentencing him to five years over the brutal domestic assault he committed against his then longtime girlfriend last August.

Johnson was arrested last year following the August 11 incident, where his battered and bruised girlfriend accused him of slamming her against the wall several times, kneeing her in the head, punching her with a closed fist, and only stopping and fleeing once he saw blood coming down her face. The 38-year-old Johnson admitted to the assault, and was sentenced by Judge Glenda Allen-Hill.

“It does appear there were times when Mr. Johnson could have stopped this offense,” Hill commented during sentencing (via MMAFighting.com). “That he could have not inflicted the amount of damage that he inflicted on his victim, but he did not.”

Johnson was last seen in the cage in September of 2014, where he was submitted by Cheick Kongo at Bellator 123.

Penick’s Analysis: It was an absolutely despicable act, and he’s very much deserving of this punishment. To viciously attack anyone as a professional fighter outside the confines of the cage/ring is unacceptable, but to do so against a much smaller woman, and a loved one at that, is unconscionable. Disgusting.

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